Youth Enrichment League: Rules & Regulations

Cameroon Football Development Program (CFDP)

U-16 Football League for Youth Development

Kumba Municipality

Third Term Holiday Tournament

July – August 2013

RULES & REGULATIONS

Introduction: CFDP has slightly adjusted the rules of match play for this U-16 Football League so that the competition can fulfill the educational objectives of our organization. We will be following all standard FIFA rules for match play, except in the following areas:

1. Punishment
2. Substitutions
3. Time of Play
4. Allocation of Match Points

Punishment: We have asked our referees to be lenient with their yellow cards. Referees will at first issue warnings to players who commit serious fouls or minor acts of unsporting behavior that may be punishable by a yellow card in other forms of football. Referees will reserve yellow cards as punishment mainly for “persistent infringement,” in other words, commitment of the same foul over and over again despite repeated warnings from the referee. We want to give players the opportunity to learn from their mistakes and correct their behavior. We believe that this process of punishment will be more educational for players under the age of 16.

Substitutions are unlimited. Whereas a traditional competitive match limits each team to three substitutions, we have adopted the substitution format of a FIFA “friendly” match: There is no limit to the number of substitutions made, but once a player has been substituted off the field, he may not return. Because this is an educational league, we want all players to have an opportunity to play and enjoy the experience. If a player finds himself sitting on the bench every match, he will not be as receptive to our educational messages. We cannot force a coach to play all his players equally, but the least we can do is eliminate a rule that gives them an easy excuse for leaving the same players on the bench week-in, week-out.

Time of Play: Two 35-minute halves, and one 10-minute halftime period.

Allocation of Match Points: In a traditional match, each team has the opportunity to win a maximum of three points. However, we are giving each team the opportunity to win a maximum of 10 points for each match. The point system is designed to reinforce the idea that our league is based on education. (See “Allocation of Match Points” document.)